At the beginning of the third decade 1904-1914, W.N. Ferris had many good things to
say about his school.

"The Ferris Institute," he said, "occupies a unique position in the educational system
of the state. It is not a high school; it is more. Its business is not the exploitation
of some pet system, or the grinding out annually by hook or crook of a certain number
of graduates. The questions of systems and the graduation are made secondary; the
questions of development and acquisition of power are primary."

Ferris did offer commencement programs combining departments of the school beginning
in 1906. Up until that time the graduation exercises had been held by department.

The College Preparatory Department, according to W.N. Ferris, was organized for two
distinct lines of work -- to prepare students to enter the regular literary departments
(liberal arts programs) of the colleges and universities and to prepare students for
technical and professional schools such as law, medicine, or dentistry.

Separate from the College Preparatory Department was the College Department. W.N.
explained it by saying "Increasing demand upon the Ferris Institute for collegiate
training has led to an important addition to the courses of study heretofore offered.
There are two courses in Greek, two in Latin, six in German, twos. in French, two
in Spanish, one in mathematics, one in geology, three in chemistry. By electing from
these courses the subjects required, the candidate can obtain one year's college credit
toward any one of the degrees: A.B., Ph.B., B.S., or B.L."

W.N. Ferris played up the Normal Department of the Ferris Institute equally with the
Commercial (technical) Department. He still had not sold the philosophy of a technical
school to the general public.

At the beginning of the third decade he said, "Of the 15 thousand pupils or more that
have gone out from the Ferris Institute, a large number have been teachers. From this
class has drawn the largest patronage; and it is a significant fact today, notwithstanding
an increase in numbers of state normal schools and a multiplicity of smaller institutions,
the enrollment in this department of the Ferris Institute shows each year a steady
gain. The Normal Department . . . has succeeded wholly because of its own merits.
It has prepared its students to pass their examinations; and better than this, its
work has made for higher scholarship among teachers . . . ."

This advertisement for the Ferris Industrial School was published in 1897 in "The
School Moderator," a periodical for educators in the state. W.N. Ferris limited his
advertising to educational publications.

Teacher certification in those days was based on examinations by the State Board of
Education, which met at least once a year to examine teachers and issue certificates
to those who had taught in the schools in Michigan for at least two years and who,
after a thorough and critical examination in every study required for such certificate,
were found to possess excellent scholarship ability and good moral character. Applicants
were required to present written testimonials from responsible persons as to their
moral character; testimonials from present or former employers as to success in teaching;
and a statement of the length of time taught by the applicant.

The candidates had to pass satisfactory examinations in orthography, reading, penmanship,
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, grammar, geography, United States history, general
history, civil government, theory and art of teaching, physics, physiology and hygiene,
botany, zoology, geology, chemistry, rhetoric, general literature, and school law
of Michigan. Latin or German could be substituted for zoology, geology, or chemistry.
In order to meet the requirement in Latin, candidates had to be able to translate
selections from Caesar and Nepos. In German the candidate had to be able to read at
sight such poetry and prose as "Immense," "Hoeher als die Kirche," "Das Kalte Herz,"
and "Burg Neideck."